President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday put a brake on
establishment of more universities in the country, even as he awarded charters
to eight new ones.
In a ceremony held at State House Nairobi, the President
installed eight new chancellors, and awarded charters to Kakamega-based KAG
East University, Rongo University, Cooperative University, Taita Taveta
University, Murang’a University of Technology, University of Embu, Machakos
University and Kirinyaga University.
The new chancellors are lawyer Fred Ojiambo (Kirinyaga
University), former Cabinet ministers Joseph Nyaga (Cooperative University) and
Dr Sally Kosgei (Taita-Taveta University), Prof Mohamed Elmi (Rongo), Mr James
Mworia (Machakos), Prof Musili Wambua (Embu), Dr Philista Onyango (Murang’a)
and Rev Dr Peter Njiiri (KAG East University).
Before the award of the charters, seven of the universities
had been operating as constituent colleges of existing universities, but wished
to be independent.
KAG East University had been operating as a “registered
private institution”, according to Commission for University Education.
Embu University had been a constituent college of the
University of Nairobi, while Kirinyaga, Cooperative, Taita Taveta and Murang’a
universities had been constituent colleges of Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology.
Machakos University had been a constituent of Kenyatta
University while Rongo University was a branch of Moi University. “I have
ordered a freeze in the establishment of new universities.
Quantity at the expense of quality has a potential to harm
our country. Our institutions have to be globally competitive in their
operations and service delivery,” President Kenyatta said.
Strengthening institutions
He said the country should now focus on strengthening the
available institutions, building their resilience and ensuring sustained
quality.
“We expect our schools and universities to teach our
children how to compete in this globalised world,” he said. The President said
the eight universities he awarded the last charters were drawn from every
corner of the country. “Our universities have a special role to play in nation
building. They challenge our parochial concerns, expose us to Kenyans of
different origins and experiences and teach us the value of our nationhood,” he
said.
The eight add to the existing 40 universities with charters.
Of the 40 institutions, 23 are public while 17 private. The University of
Nairobi is the oldest of them all, having been established in 1970, while
Kibabii is the youngest having been established in 2011.
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